About

What You’ll Get Here…

You may hear about my huge antique French farm table find from a newspaper ad, flying my family free to Italy, or my used luxury car finds. But what you’ll get here that’s way bigger is my realization that, while a nice portfolio of stocks and bonds is bliss, being financial independence is way bigger than picking the right stock, fund or financial advisor. It’s about living in a way that supports your financial goals, having the confidence and knowledge to grow your money (whether alone or with a well chosen financial advisor), and also creating income streams using either your highest skills, your money, or both to fund the lifestyle you desire.

As a woman, I first began knowing nothing about investing, but I knew it was super important for me and my family, probably much like you if you’re here. You’ll get what I’ve learned from investing my own money for well over 3 decades. It’s not a holy grail for investing; there isn’t one. There’s only owning your financial journey, choosing what you want, and gaining the knowledge to make it happen. My humble goal is that my work will help you make good choices and invest with confidence.

You’ll also get ideas and solutions to increase your income because, like me, you’ve probably noticed that earning 6% in an investment account won’t get you rich unless you already are, and it probably won’t pay for the lifestyle you want, especially during insanely low interest rates. So, I’ll share how I created both investment income and tax friendly small business income from multiple “mini” businesses.

Together, let’s drop the saboteurs of wealth creation such as limited thinking, shame and guilt, after centuries of subtle destructive messages around money and women. Let’s make conscious choices that fund wealth accumulation, and step into our financial power so we can live the way that we want, and encourage future generations of women to do the same.

But Who Am I, Camille Gaines, and Why Would You Listen to Me?

Short Version

In 2007, I built FinancialWoman.com, researched and wrote about women and money for over a decade based on a deep passion to share what I had learned while personally investing, a desire to create income streams while creating positive change, and destroy the financial education gap between men and women that I had seen my whole life. This adventure led to eventually launching two more online “mini” businesses, and then learning how to do and run all of this with the help of a great team, because I saw that extra income + smart investing = financial freedom.

I have personally invested in just about everything (stocks, bonds, real estate, small business, oil) for well over three decades after being mentored by my father, the most successful investor I have ever seen. It is my humble goal to invest as well as Dad one day, teach women how to invest with confidence and help others create income streams before and during retirement so they can live the way they want.

You Might Be Wondering…

But wait! Is your website about investing or income? It’s about both, because financial freedom is about both… Extra income + smart investing = financial freedom

Am I a Financial Advisor, like many financial education websites?No. I did not choose to be a financial advisor, meaning I don’t manage wealth for others for a small percent of their net worth each year. I have, however, been fortunate to hire and work with numerous financial advisors over the years so I am able to share what I learned from this experience. I have also led workshops for financial professionals that promote financial education for women. I teach what I have learned from my own financial journey, including personally investing my own money, so you get completely unbiased information.

Do I work with private clients as a financial coach? Yes, as time permits. I still love working individually with women as we can move quickly based on exactly what she needs in 1 of 2 areas with the goal of wealth accumulation: investing smarter and 2. increasing income. I also work with small groups that you put together which reduces your cost and increases the synergy! Click here to contact me for private or small group coaching.

What is Financial Woman, and why is this the name of my website? If you have money then you have finances. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want money so they can live the way they want. If you take learn about investing, make good decisions, and care of that money, then it grows. My mission is to help every woman, including myself, be a better Financial Woman.

Am I in favor of using financial advisors, or investing DIY?I am in favor of what works in order to accumulate enough money to live the way you want. Many women don’t have enough money to work with a financial advisor yet, so a low cost index strategy is ideal for them to master. Others want to manage their own money and are completely capable of doing that with less costs. Other women already work with a financial advisor, maybe with a husband, but they desperately want to understand their investments better so they can feel more confident and stop living in uncertainty. For many, a male in the home manages wealth. Often men encourage their spouses to learn from me so she can manage her own finances with confidence if the time comes, and the odds are overwhelming that it will.

My Own Investing, Life and Money Related Education and Experiences (a.k.a. painful but powerful learning experiences)

Always ask why you should listen to anyone before actually listening to them and acting on their advice. Ask what has prepared them to help you. Officially, I’m an Accredited Financial Counselor®, which requires experience, testing, code of ethics, and continuing education. But here’s some of what I’ve actually done that I believe has prepared me to help other women invest smarter and create income streams, from the 1980’s through early 2017, sort of in order, but I’ve done several things, like investing, for decades now…

5 Years Accounting for Commodities Trading

Bought my first home based on a 2 year plan and implementation (mid 20’s)

Invested in my first mutual fund (age 22)

Began investing in the stock market (age 22)

Invested in stock market through retirement plan; made enough to leave corporate accounting job (hooray!) and work for self in commercial real estate (mid 20’s)

Bought, set up and leased my own first residential rental property (20’s)

Late 1980’s – Began avidly reading Forbes®, Barron’s®, Value Line® about a hundred books on investing and became passionate on the topic after discovering the importance of this role while also raising a family and living overseas (Barron’s® and the beach…heavenly!)

Realized that earning 6% in balanced stock and bond markets alone would not reach my financial goals so became passionate about learning alternative wealth strategies, including oil and gas, real estate, conservative option strategies, and small business ownership – mid 2000’s aha!

Survived the 2000-2002 technology bust AND the 2008 stock market devastation but it sure did hurt, as most powerful lessons do

Began studying securities technical analysis avidly to better understand market cycles to lessen probability of buying near the tops and selling near the lows (mid 2000’s)

Mid 2000’s bought fourplex outside Austin (anticipating growth in that direction) which generated income (and appreciation) during and following recession; currently own and manage

Developed and implemented an index and covered call income strategy that returned 18% for the year while maintaining only a 1% downside risk by capitalizing on high options premiums due to volatility in 2009. (Goal was income with low risk at the time as we came out of the depression.)

Wrote my first book, Earn Grow, Give, and made Amazon best-seller status (2011)

Spoke at Texas Conference for Women, and emceed for David Bach at conference (2012)

Received a JV Publishing offer from a Venture Capitalist to expand Financial Woman (2012)

Coached women on reaching their financial goals in group and private programs (2007-current)

Small business marketing and strategy consulting with a focus on increasing and leveraging income (2011 – now)

Conducted virtual and live workshops motivating and inspiring women to reach their financial and life goals for financial advisors and other groups

Launched a successful private label products company with a charity element for children in the USA based on the Give principle in my book (2015)

Hire and oversee small global, but mostly US based, outsourced team of 6 to 13 people to manage all these endeavors with balance

Programs I’ve Completed So Far:

University of Mississippi – BA Business Administration

Accredited Financial Counselor (Current; obtained 2014)

Texas State RampCorp (Small Business Startup Program for Women) 2012 and 2013

What You’ll Get Here

While a nice portfolio of stocks is bliss, having financial independence is way bigger than picking the right stock, fund or financial advisor. It’s about living in a way that supports your financial goals, having the confidence and knowledge to grow your money (alone or with a well chosen financial advisor), and creating income streams using either your highest skills, your money, or both to fund the lifestyle you desire.
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